Smith Memorial Arch facts for kids
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The Smith Memorial Arch is a special monument in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It honors the brave Pennsylvanians who fought in the American Civil War. You can find it at South Concourse and Lansdowne Drive.
This grand arch acts like a big entrance to West Fairmount Park. It stands on land that was once used for the 1876 Centennial Exposition, a huge world's fair. The memorial is made of two giant columns and curved arches. It's decorated with 13 sculptures of people, including two on horseback, three standing figures, and eight busts (sculptures of just the head and shoulders). There are also two eagles standing on globes and eight artistic carvings that represent ideas like "Courage."
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How the Smith Memorial Arch Was Built
In 1891, a rich man named Richard Smith, who made metal plates and type for printing, decided to leave a lot of money in his will. He wanted $500,000 (which would be millions of dollars today!) to build a memorial arch. This arch would honor Pennsylvania's heroes from the Civil War.
Richard Smith had very specific instructions for his memorial. He wanted his friend, John B. Gest, to handle the money. He chose James H. Windrim, a Philadelphia architect, to design and build the arch. For the sculptures of the heroes, he wanted the Fairmount Park Art Association to choose the artists.
Richard Smith passed away in 1894, but his wife lived a bit longer. His will could only be put into action after her death in 1895. So, it wasn't until 1897 that the Fairmount Park Art Association started picking the sculptors. The very first artists were chosen in May 1898. It took many years, and the last sculpture was finally finished and put on the arch in 1912.
Richard and Sarah Smith's money also helped create the Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse. This fun place for kids is in East Fairmount Park.
Who Are the Sculptures Of?
The Smith Memorial Arch features many sculptures of important people and symbols. These sculptures were created by different talented artists.
Standing Statues
- Major General George Gordon Meade by Daniel Chester French: This statue is on top of the south column. General Meade was a very important Union Army commander during the Civil War.
- Major General John Fulton Reynolds by Charles Grafly: This statue is on top of the north column. General Reynolds was another key Union general.
- Richard Smith by Herbert Adams: This statue shows the generous person who paid for the memorial. It's on the base of the north column.
Statues on Horseback
- Major General George B. McClellan by Edward Clark Potter: This statue of General McClellan on his horse is on top of the south pier.
- Major General Winfield Scott Hancock by John Quincy Adams Ward: This statue of General Hancock on his horse is on top of the north pier.
Busts (Head and Shoulders Sculptures)
- Major General John F. Hartranft by Alexander Stirling Calder.
- Major General Samuel W. Crawford by Bessie Potter Vonnoh.
- General James Addams Beaver by Katherine M. Cohen.
- Admiral David Dixon Porter by Charles Grafly.
- Admiral John A. B. Dahlgren by George Bissell.
- Governor Andrew Gregg Curtin by Moses Jacob Ezekiel.
- James H. Windrim (the architect of the Memorial) by Samuel Murray.
- John B. Gest (who managed Richard Smith's estate) by Charles Grafly.
Other Art on the Arch
- There are two large eagles standing on globes, also made by John Massey Rhind.
- You can see eight carvings called "bas-reliefs" that show ideas like Courage and Heroism. These were also made by Rhind.
- The top part of the arch, called the frieze, has the names of 84 Pennsylvania veterans carved into it.
- The arch also has a special message carved into it. It talks about how the monument was given by Richard Smith to remember Pennsylvanians in the Civil War. It also says that after the fighting stopped, the North and South came back together to share their country's heritage and live in peace.
